Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle remind you of stable animals: grazing like sheep, stubborn like donkeys, and that cow in the corner looks a lot like the fellow next door. You, like Joseph, knocked on the innkeeper's door. But you were too late. Or too old, sick, dull, damaged, poor, or peculiar. You know the sound of a slamming door.

I remember enjoying writing those, theres two clues of a gift: you enjoy doing it and people enjoy you doing it.

A couple of things have helped. One is that I dont travel any, that takes a lot of time from peoples schedules, if they travel, so I dont travel.

Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, "I can clean that if you want." And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin.

If hurts were hairs, we'd all look like grizzlies.

Anger is the noise of the soul; the unseen irritant of the heart; the relentless invader of silence.

On the eve of the cross, Jesus made his decision. He would rather go to hell for you than go to heaven without you.